Chapter 3 - Arguing or Planning

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Auria~

Pretty soon everyone got on the ship.

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Lily~

Jun strode impatiently into the airship, settling on the seat she had taken previously.

She watched as the rest of her teammates "ambled" in, and waited for all of them to arrive.


"So, how do you people propose we get into Esthar? We can't just barge in like that, what with the tight security. Any good plans?" She glanced around at them.

"I would've assumed you discussed a little of this while you were lingering in the shop?"

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Auria~

Zacke sighed. "Well...we could just wing it and fly in. There's a war going on, they've gotta have airships going in and out of that place all the time. Maybe they...won't...notice?" he glanced around.

"Okay bad idea, scratch it. What if we somehow got an Estharian airship? There's gotta be some way we can get our hands on one. That would make it a lot easier, we could just fly right into the city."

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QuistisTrepe002~

Dan nodded at Gone's suggestion. "You're probably right, Gone," Dan said, as he sat down on one of the seats.

Turning to Jun, Dan spoke again. "Like Col said, it would've been a good thing if Xu hadn't dumped Adel's airship in the ocean."

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Ani~

Estharian Airship? Stardust raised an eyebrow. She couldn't think of any place they could get an Estharian airship other than Esthar. If there was one, which part of the world would that be? They didn't have the time to roam the world in search of one.

"Easy said than done," she replied sounding unconvinced. "I don't think so. It'll be best if we land somewhere near Esthar like Great Salt Lake and find another means of transportation from there. I heard Defenders are swarming to get inside the city." She leaned on one side and swayed a hand in reason. "We can tag along."

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ShadowFoxBlight~

Alaxia looked up at the airship with a slight fear in her eye. She threw her bag over her shoulder and head up the path leading to the entrance of the ship. Alaxia sat in the far back of the room she didn't want to be seen or herd.

/ What's wrong now Alaxia, Is that freak still on the mind?/ Lamara said in a could voice

Alaxia looked for Xarin on the aircaft but no sight of him still.

Lamara please just leav me alone. And he's not a freak.

**********************************

Alaxzander walks up into the airship. Look at these fool..... Alaxzander looked around to the room hopeing to find his sister but he didnt quite see her. She must me shoping or something ...girls.

/So what wrong with the female race?/

Nothing there just slow.

/And your sister?/

Just the same a fool and a discracy our family name.

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GC~

"Easy said than done. I don't think so. It'll be best if we land somewhere near Esthar like Great Salt Lake and find another means of transportation from there. I heard Defenders are swarming to get inside the city." Stardust said gesturing. "We can tag along."

Gone train of thought was broken by that suggestion. It sounded like music to his ears. That suggestion would keep his precious airship, out of harm’s way. He didn’t want Lady Luck to be captured or shot down. He’d put to much into her for that kind of end. And they could pretend they were new recruits for the defenders. It wouldn’t be suspicious or anything, more and more people were siding with Adel. Gone stood up so fast he smacked his head on part of the airship.

“Ouch.” He muttered rubbing his head before shaking it to clear the ringing. “I think that’s brilliant idea, love.” He said tumbling over his words. “Lots of people join the defenders, it would be suspicious, and it would get us into the city with less notice than an airship would attract. And the Great Salt Lake isn’t a place a lot of people go, so the Lady Luck’s not likely to be noticed, even by sensors or radar. I think that’s our best bet.”

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Lily~

"What if we somehow got an Estharian airship? There's gotta be some way we can get our hands on one. That would make it a lot easier, we could just fly right into the city." Zacke suggested.

Hmmmm but how would we get an Estharian Airship at such a short notice?

Just as she was about to voice her doubts, she was interrupted by Dan, who turned and spoke to her.
"Like Col said, it would've been a good thing if Xu hadn't dumped Adel's airship in the ocean."

"Well, I'm inclined to believe she must've dumped it for a good reason." Jun replied, shooting a sharp glance at both Col and Dan. "And it's useless to dwell on what's already been done."

Stardust then spoke up, refuting Zacke's suggestion.
"Easy said than done. I don't think so. It'll be best if we land somewhere near Esthar like Great Salt Lake and find another means of transportation from there. I heard Defenders are swarming to get inside the city." She said gesturing. "We can tag along."

"Excellent plan." Jun smiled at Stardust. "So I believe the problem of getting into Esthar is solved? How about when we're in Esthar? I think we should split up, again."

{Yes, continue making a fool of yourself by making silly suggestions.}

"Some of us are concerned that this might be a setup." She continued, ignoring the possiblity that she was making a fool of herself. "So as a precaution, maybe we should let one team inflitrate the laboratories first, while the other acts as backup in case there's an ambush.

Any takers?"

{Of course, you realise if there really is an ambush, your team maybe be too outnumbered to do anything.}

If you can't be of any help, Sapph, shut your trap.

She waited patiently for their replies.

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Spiff~

Xarin's ears perked up at the mention of two teams going into Esthar. He most definately wanted to be on the primary team, being the first to search out the gemstone and the first to 'tour' the laboratories. He had a personal stake in going to the labs, and he knew his way around them very well, having been in them before, "I'll volunteer for the first team, since I've been inside the labs once before. My memory's still very good, and I also have . . . things to look for inside."

The scientists could have done more research since his capture and mutation so many years ago. Which meant that they would have notes in the labs, notes that could possibly detail how to extract the demon that Xarin's body housed. Notes that the blue-haired man was very egar to find.

~~*~~

Sym watched the others as they stood around in the airship, a smile pasted on her face. It wasn't that she wasn't happy, but they were going deep into enemy territory without much of a plan to keep them safe. That thought made her very nervous, and she figeted in her seat, a motion that was hardly noticable by the others. They weren't looking at her anyways. She'd managed to blend into the background again.

"Whatever team needs people's the one you can put me on, guys," Sym added to the din of conversation that encircled her in the airship. Smiling again, she sat back and half closed her eyes, listening to the words around her.

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Auria~

"Hey, hold up just a second," Zacke cut in. "We're not doing the whole 'one group waits outside while the rest infiltrate' trip again. Hell no. Last time we did that we lost contact with eachother and the whole plan was shot."

He stepped forward, off the wall. "From the impression I got from Laice, this place isn't small. She said run-down factory-type. Taking that, and the fact that it is in the middle of Esthar, swarming with Defenders and Adel-supporting scientist dudes, into consideration, I think we'll need everyone we have on the job.

"I know Laice said she wouldn't recommend forceful methods, but let's face it, there's only about three of us with that stealth and subterfuge training crap, which essentially sucks because we kinda need it right now but hey we have to work with what we have. And what we do have is power in numbers. I bet we'd have a helluva better chance busting in there with weapons drawn and tearing through rooms until we find the Emerald.

"I agree with your plan though, Stardust," he said, turning to her. "As unbelievable as that seems." he turned again to address everyone. "And I like the idea of getting into the city as Defenders, but how're we going to make them believe we're even in DotNA? I sure as hell don't know what kinda of indentification methods they use for the members, and they don't use uniforms. Plus, DotNA is a kind of underground-organization type thing. I seriously doubt there's swarms of them passing in and out of Esthar every day." He looked pointedly at Stardust as he said this sentence.

"But, I do think going inside in Estharian uniform wouldn't be nearly as hard. Those guys are like clones. They're just foot soldiers. All we would need is some uniforms. They don't have special training or stealth-operative mojo like those Defenders. You guys all know how to use a gun, right? We could get through security as Estharian soldiers, find this laboratory Laice mentioned, bust inside, find the jewel, and run hell for leather."

He laughed. "There's no use in making it all more complicated than it is."

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Lily~

Jun listened to Zacke's plan quietly.

{Ooooh someone's ego is bruised. Should I say, "I told you so."?}

"Whatever you say, Zacke. You lot are the experienced ones." Jun shrugged, her face expressionless.

For once, she decided to follow the GF's advice and keep her mouth shut, listening instead of offering her views.

Stupid views.

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Ani~

Zacke barged in reasoning that splitting groups wouldn't be such a good idea. He also suggested using force while infiltrating due to the fact that the teams power rested in their numbers.

Stardust cocked her head and listened to him blab some more.

"And I like the idea of getting into the city as Defenders, but how're we going to make them believe we're even in DotNA? I sure as hell don't know what kinda of indentification methods they use for the members, and they don't use uniforms." For once, Zacke had a point. Maybe tagging with the Defenders would be complicated as well. She placed a hand on her waist as Zacke continued, "Plus, DotNA is a kind of underground-organization type thing. I seriously doubt there's swarms of them passing in and out of Esthar every day." he stated, aiming the last sentence to her.

She wrinkled her forehead. She remembered hearing that type of rumor somewhere in Garden. Or was it just a calumny designed to fool the ignoramus that were roaming around Balamb Garden?

/Oh Stardust, wherever did you hear that scoop?/ Diwata laughed. /Why would an underground organization be out--/

Be quiet! She frowned and folded her arms.

Zacke added, "But, I do think going inside in Estharian uniform wouldn't be nearly as hard. Those guys are like clones. They're just foot soldiers. All we would need is some uniforms. They don't have special training or stealth-operative mojo like those Defenders. You guys all know how to use a gun, right? We could get through security as Estharian soldiers, find this laboratory Laice mentioned, bust inside, find the jewel, and run hell for leather. There's no use in making it all more complicated than it is." He finally ended with a laugh.

Stardust heard Jun agree with him and she was sure the others would follow suit. She wondered how come Zacke knew more facts than her when she hardly saw him give much concentration to whomever was briefing them. Was she doing something wrong? Because that couldn't be right.

"So we'll use Estharian uniforms instead..." she faintly said and glanced at the others. "Taking out some Estharian soldiers in the area wouldn't be a problem, much less stealing their uniforms. Maybe it'll work."

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Auria~

"Taking out some Estharian soldiers at the area wouldn't be a problem, much less stealing their uniforms. Maybe it'll work." Stardust commented.

"I don't see why we're rallying around Mercutio." Reese said. "His plan is a bunch of bullsh!t." he turned to Zacke. "So you're saying we, and I quote 'run in, weapons drawn, and tear through rooms until we find the jewel'?" he smirked, turning his head to address everyone.

"Do you realize how fast they'll have soldiers on the place? We'll be like ants, trying to escape the confines of the twisting tunnels in the anthill by means of an opening--but oh! what's this?! The opening is covered by a rock. All of them are."

He took a step forward, gesturing his hand articulately. "If you want to get it done right, making a bloodfest of it is definitly not what you want to do. And by the way," he turned to Xiran. "Don't say you know your way around the laboratory. I know for a fact you've never been in this laboratory. How? None of us have. Come now, DotNA's security isn't that weak. I don't know what you mean to accomplish with lies, but they're definitly not getting us anywhere so could you please just refrain from telling them--thanks."

He turned again to address everyone. "As I was saying, lets not barge into the place all loud and obnoxious-like, casting spells and throwing blows. Hypothetically we would have a chance at getting our hands on the Emerald, but come now, do you really believe half of us would make it out alive?" he smirked.

"Now, we could land near the Great Salt Lake, as Miss Infinity so cunningly proposed," he nodded at Stardust, his tone sincere. "then cross over by foot. They say there's a hidden elevator on the other side of the lake that takes you into Esthar, straight into the Presidential Palace.

"Now, Erple Way probably isn't anywhere near the Presidential Palace, judging from the size of Esthar and the odds of us having such luck, but you must admit, finding this elevator and getting into the city unnoticed would be a lot easier than bullying around a bunch of Estharian soldiers and taking their clothes." he smirked.

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Mercurymari~

"I don't know about that, Reese," Rika interjected, having been silently listening the whole time. "With your plan, we can get in unnoticed, but what happens after that? We would still have to wander around, looking for Erple Way. It'd only be a matter of time until they spotted us, a conspicuously large group of people obviously searching for something, and raise the alarm. They won't be taking ANY chances, so I have to disagree with your plan on those grounds, Reese."

She folded her arms and looked around at the others, to make sure everyone was listening. "With our experience, we should be able to get a hold of some Estharian soldiers; but we wouldn't necessarily have to 'bully them around.' I have some pretty potent spells that would immediately render them incapable of fighting back, or raising an alarm--confuse, break, stop, pain, sleep..." She counted them off on her fingers as she listed each spell. "I've got more than plenty of each stocked, so it really wouldn't be a problem to leave them incapacitated, while we steal their uniforms and head on in."

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Bunny~

Tomoe stood apart from the group, watching silently as they traded ideas...and shot each other down, basically. Wolfe made his way to her. "Aren't you gonna offer any ideas?" he asked casually. "You are Estharian; surely you have some thoughts."

Tomoe crossed her arms. "Let them bicker," she said softly, "and get it out of their systems. They'll decide soon enough, and I'm not getting in there." She nodded towards the group. "They're merciless."

Wolfe glanced down at her, grinning. "You got that right. It's really amazing how you've all held together through this."

"I don't think 'held together' are the words you wanna use...." Tomoe looked away.